Eugene Melnyk Files Grievance Over Dany Heatley Dispute

According to an article from Sun Media's Bruce Garrioch, Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators, has filed a grievance with the NHL over this summer's highly publicized dispute with winger Dany Heatley.

Melnyk is hoping to get back the $4 million bonus he paid to Heatley this summer.

The Senators contend that the Heatley camp did, in fact, give them permission to speak with the Edmonton Oilers and that the Penner, Cogliano and Smid package offered by the Oilers should have been a done deal.

As we all know, Heatley used his no-trade clause to reject the deal to Edmonton and ultimately got his way and was shipped off to sunny California.

The process could take as long as two years to be resolved but Melnyk is stubborn enough that he's willing to fight this to the end.

For a wealthy man like Melnyk I'm sure this isn't really about the money. This is a matter of principle to Melnyk and the Senators organization who feel they were wronged by Heatley this summer.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated this summer that the Senators may in fact have ground for a grievance so this announcement isn't really a big surprise.

Here's the link to the Garrioch article...

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/02/11611141.html